About

Landon Getz is a molecular bacteriologist, computational biologist, and an engaged scientist with an eye to social advocacy. He is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow in the laboratory of Dr. Karen L. Maxwell at the University of Toronto, studying phage-host interactions using Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and E. coli as model systems. His work focuses on the diversity and mechanisms of bacterial antiviral defence, particularly the defences carried by mobile genetic elements such as the sedentary chromosomal integron of Vibrio spp. Using bacterial genetics, comparative genomics, structural biology, and biochemistry, his work unravels the fascinating world of bacterial antiviral immunity and its evolutionary ancestry to eukaryotic antiviral immunity. Landon has published in microbiology, bioethics, and science policy, and is a keen advocate for 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion in STEM. He is the co-founder of Pride in Microbiology and the recipient of the Microbiology Society's 2026 EDI Prize.

Position

Postdoctoral Fellow

Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto

Laboratory of Dr. Karen Maxwell

Education

Ph.D. (Microbiology & Immunology)

Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, 2017 - 2022

Advanced Bacterial Genetics Course

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, 2019

B.Sc. Honours (Microbiology & Immunology)

Faculty of Science, Dalhousie University, 2013 - 2017

Certificate in Genetics

Faculty of Science, Dalhousie University, 2017

Publications

391 citations H-index 12 Google Scholar, August 2026

Peer-Reviewed Articles (19)

  1. Getz, L.J., Fairburn, S.R., Maxwell, K.L.# (2026). "Molecular control of bacterial immunity" Nature Structural and Molecular Biology. (In Press)
  2. Getz, L.J.*, Qian, A.L.*, Liu, Y.V., Fairburn, S.R., Butt, M.S., Lee, Y-J., Weigele, P.R., Maxwell, K.L.# (2026). "Antiviral defence is a conserved function of diverse bacterial DNA glycosylases" Nature Microbiology. DOI
  3. Patel, P.H., McCarthy, M., Taylor, V.L., Cole, G., Zhang, C., Edghill, M., Getz, L.J., Fung, B., Moraes, T.F., Davidson, A.R., Norris, M.J.#, Maxwell, K.L.# (2026). "A pore-forming antiphage defence is activated by oligomeric phage proteins" Nature. DOI
  4. Serrador, D., Getz, L.J., Cao, K.Y., Campbell, J.R., Kaul, R., Navarre, W.W.# (2025). "Complete genome sequences of six Lactobacillus iners strains isolated from Kenyan women" Microbiology Resource Announcements. DOI
  5. Serrador, D., Campbell, J.R., Getz, L.J., Cheung, D., Shefraw, G., Kaul, R., Navarre, W.W.# (2025). "Practical media formulations for rapid growth of Lactobacillus iners and other vaginal bacteria" Applied and Environmental Microbiology. DOI
  6. Getz, L.J.*, Patel, P.*, Maxwell, K.L.# (2025). "A Solution to the Post-Antibiotic Era: Phages as Precision Medicine" Current Opinion in Microbiology. DOI
  7. Getz, L.J.*, Robinson, O.*, Thomas, N.A.# (2025). "Functional genomics of chitin degradation by Vibrio parahaemolyticus reveals finely integrated metabolic contributions to support environmental fitness" PLoS Genetics. DOI
  8. Getz, L.J., Fairburn, S.R., Liu, Y.V., Qian, A.L., Maxwell, K.L.# (2025). "Integrons are anti-phage defence libraries in Vibrio parahaemolyticus" Nature Microbiology. DOI
  9. Getz, L.J., Maxwell, K.L.# (2024). "Diverse anti-phage defences are widespread among prophages and mobile genetic elements" Annual Review of Virology. DOI
  10. Patel, P.H., Taylor, V.L., Zhang, C., Getz, L.J., Fitzpatrick, A.D., Davidson, A.R., Maxwell, K.L.# (2024). "Anti-phage defence through inhibition of virion assembly" Nature Communications. DOI
  11. Getz, L.J., Brown, J.M., Sobot, L., Chow, A., Mahendrarajah, J., Thomas, N.A.# (2023). "Attenuation of a DNA Cruciform by a Conserved Regulator Directs T3SS-1 Mediated Virulence in Vibrio parahaemolyticus" Nucleic Acids Research. DOI
  12. Getz, L.J.*, Kratzer, K.*, Peterlini, T., Masson, J-Y.#, Dellaire, G.# (2022). "Addressing the dark matter of gene therapy: technical and ethical barriers to clinical application" Human Genetics. DOI
  13. Getz, L.J.#, Dellaire, G.# (2020). "Back to Basics: Application of the Principles of Bioethics to Heritable Genome Interventions" Science and Engineering Ethics. DOI
  14. Getz, L.J., Runté, C., Rainey, J., Thomas, N.A.# (2019). "Tyrosine phosphorylation as a widespread regulatory mechanism in prokaryotes" Journal of Bacteriology. DOI
  15. Thornbury, M.*, Sicheri, J.*, Slaine, P.D., Getz, L.J., Finlayson-Trick, E.C.L., Cook, J., Guinard, C., Boudreau, N., Jakeman, D., Rohde, J.R., McCormick, C.# (2019). "Characterization of novel lignocellulose-degrading enzymes from the porcupine microbiome using synthetic metagenomics" PLoS One. DOI
  16. Getz, L.J., Dellaire, G. (2018). "Angels and Devils: Dual-Use in Biotechnology" Trends in Biotechnology. DOI
  17. Runté, C., Jain, U., Getz, L.J., Secord, S., Kuwae, A., Abe, A., Leblanc, J., Stadnyk, A.W., Kaper, J.B., Hansen, A.M., Thomas, N.A.# (2018). "Tandem tyrosine phosphosites in the enteropathogenic Escherichia coli chaperone CesT are required for differential type III effector translocation and virulence" Molecular Microbiology. DOI
  18. Getz, L.J., Thomas, N.A.# (2018). "The Transcriptional Regulator HlyU is a Positive Regulator for Expression of exsA Leading to Type III Secretion System-1 Activation in Vibrio parahaemolyticus" Journal of Bacteriology. DOI
  19. Finlayson-Trick, E.C.L.*, Getz, L.J.*, Slaine, P.D.*, Thornbury, M., Lamourerux, E., Cook, J., Langille, M.G.I., Murray, L.E., McCormick, C., Rohde, J.R., Cheng, Z.# (2017). "Taxonomic differences of gut microbiomes drive cellulolytic enzymatic potential within hind-gut fermenting mammals" PLoS One. DOI

Science Policy and Public Scholarship (21)

  1. di Cologna, N.M., Barnes, K.L., Getz, L.J., Pérez-López, E., de Oliveira, B.F.R. (2026). "Cultivating the Pride in Microbiology Network" Trends in Microbiology. DOI
  2. Getz, L.J. (2024). "Data Collection Bolsters Inclusivity of 2SLGBTQIA+ Scientists" American Society for Microbiology.
  3. de Oliveira, B.F.R., Getz, L.J., Pérez-López, E. (2023). "The Pride in Microbiology Network: empowering 2SLGBTQIA+ microbiologists" Applied Microbiology International's The Microbiologist.
  4. Getz, L.J., de Oliveira, B.F.R., Pérez-López, E. (2023). "We need a Pride in Microbiology Network" Nature Microbiology. DOI
  5. Qaiser, F., Laventure, A., Rilling, M., King, M., Johnson, C., Jakac-Sinclair, N., Getz, L.J., Cartile, A., Boulanger, M.E., Ammendolia, J. (2023). "When youth voices are heard, science shines brighter" University Affairs.
  6. Baylis, F., Getz, L.J. (2021). "Challenge studies for COVID-19: Now is still not the time" JME Blog.
  7. Getz, L.J., Baylis, F. (2021). "Challenge studies for COVID-19: Now is not the time" JME Blog.
  8. Getz, L.J., Baylis, F. (2020). "Canada should reject the idea of deliberately infecting vaccine volunteers" PolicyOptions.ca.
  9. Baylis, F., Getz, L.J. (2020). "Why federal government should reject human challenge trials for COVID-19 vaccine" CBC Opinion.
  10. Qaiser, F., Morriseau, T., Rilling, M., Cartile, A., Sung, M., Getz, L.J., Boulanger, M-E. (2020). "Envisioning A Post-Pandemic Future in the Canadian Science Community: A Youth Perspective" Canadian Science Policy Conference 2020.
  11. Baylis, F., Getz, L.J. (2020). "Rush to risky challenge trials is unethical" HealthyDebate.ca.
  12. Getz, L.J. (2020). "Rushing coronavirus vaccines and treatments could do more harm than good" TheConversation.ca. (Republished in Everything Zoomer and Dal News)
  13. Kofler, N., Getz, L.J., Baylis, F., Dellaire, G. (2019). "Genetically modifying mosquitoes to control the spread of disease carries unknown risks" TheConversation.ca. (Republished in Salon, HalifaxToday.ca, SaltWire Newspapers, and Gannett Newspapers)
  14. Getz, L.J., Dellaire, G. (2019). "Moratorium on Human Genome Editing: Time to Get It Right" The Hastings Center Forum Blog.
  15. Getz, L.J., Dellaire, G. (2019). "CRISPR gene editing: Why we need Slow Science" TheConversation.ca.
  16. Getz, L.J. (2019). "The 'Value' of Consumer DNA Sequencing" Impact Ethics at Novel Tech Ethics.
  17. Getz, L.J., Dellaire, G., Baylis, F. (2018). "Jiankui He: A Sorry Tale of High-Stakes Science" The Hastings Center Forum Blog.
  18. Baylis, F., Dellaire, G., Getz, L.J. (2018). "Why we are not ready for genetically designed babies" TheConversation.ca. (Reprinted in National Post and Halifax Chronicle Herald)
  19. Getz, L.J. (2018). "Thicker Than Water: Slow Movement on Blood Policy" Impact Ethics at Novel Tech Ethics.
  20. Getz, L.J. (2018). "The Privacy Implications of Human DNA Sequencing" Impact Ethics at Novel Tech Ethics.
  21. Getz, L.J. (2017). "A Reflection on Blood Donation Policy in Canada" Impact Ethics at Novel Tech Ethics. (Reprinted at the Kennedy Institute of Ethics Bioethics Blog)

Pre-Prints (5)

  1. Getz, L.J.*, Qian, A.L.*, Liu, Y.V., Fairburn, S.R., Butt, M.S., Lee, Y-J., Weigele, P.R., Maxwell, K.L. (2025). "Antiviral defence is a conserved function of diverse DNA glycosylases" BioRxiv.
  2. Getz, L.J.*, Robinson, O.*, Thomas, N.A. (2024). "Functional Genomics of chitin degradation by Vibrio parahaemolyticus reveals finely integrated metabolic contributions to support environmental fitness" BioRxiv.
  3. Getz, L.J., Brown, J.M., Sobot, L., Chow, A., Mahendrarajah, J., Thomas, N.A. (2022). "Attenuation of a DNA Cruciform by a Conserved Regulator Directs T3SS-1 mediated virulence in Vibrio parahaemolyticus" BioRxiv.
  4. Thornbury, M.*, Sicheri, J.*, Slaine, P., Getz, L.J., Finlayson-Trick, E., Cook, J., Guinard, C., Boudreau, N., Jakeman, D., Rohde, J., McCormick, C. (2018). "Discovery and Characterization of Novel Lignocellulose-Degrading Enzymes from the Porcupine Microbiome" BioRxiv.
  5. Runté, C., Jain, U., Getz, L.J., Secord, S., Kuwae, A., Abe, A., Leblanc, J., Stadnyk, A.W., Kaper, J.B., Hansen, A.M., Thomas, N.A. (2018). "Tandem tyrosine residues in the EPEC multicargo chaperone CesT support differential type III effector translocation and early host colonization" BioRxiv.

Presentations

Invited Talks (8)

Phage Therapy: Solutions in a Post-Antibiotic Era

2nd Annual Antimicrobial Resistance Symposium

2023 Connell Award for Best All Round Post Doctoral Fellow Award Talk

Annual Biochemistry Retreat 2023

Pride in Microbiology, A Community Resource Also for Plant Biologists

Canadian Society of Plant Biology Annual Meeting

2022 Armand Frappier Outstanding Graduate Student Award - Attenuation of DNA Cruciform Structures by a Conserved Regulator Directs Virulence Gene Expression in Pandemic Vibrio

71st Annual Conference of the Canadian Society of Microbiologists

2022 Al Downe Memorial Lecture - Editing Nature: Genetically Modified Mosquitoes and a Case for Slow Science

Al Downe Memorial Lecture

Transposon Sequencing: Functional Genomics for Probing Bacterial Pathogenesis

Genomics in Medicine - Emerging Technologies and Bioinformatic Challenges

Vibrio parahaemolyticus and infection: A complex relationship between environment and host

Graduate Student Research Day Excellence in Research Award Keynote

The Multimodal Lifestyle of Marine Vibrio

Natural History Museum Life Science Seminar Series

Oral Presentations (14)

Integrons are Anti-Phage Defence Libraries in Vibrio parahaemolyticus

73rd Annual Conference of the Canadian Society of Microbiologists — Montreal, QC

Awarded Knowles Postdoctoral Research Award
Vibrio parahaemolyticus integrons encode novel antiphage defences

Vibrio2024: The International Meeting on the Biology of Vibrios — Lima, Peru

DNA Cruciforms Regulate Virulence Gene Expression in Pathogenic Vibrio Species

70th Annual Conference of the Canadian Society of Microbiologists — Remote

Awarded CCM Student Symposium Award
Build Back Better: The Chief Science Advisor's Youth Council's Roundtables to Envision A Post-Pandemic Future in the Canadian Science Community

Canadian Science Policy Conference — University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON

Functional genomics of Vibrio pathogenesis and environmental persistence

Canadian Student Health Research Forum — University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB

Awarded CIHR Silver Award
A DNA Cruciform Structure Regulates Virulence Gene Expression in Human Pathogenic Vibrio species

Professional Research and Education Program Graduate Student Research Day — Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS

A Regulator of Sugar Metabolism Implicated in the Secretion and Virulence of Vibrio parahaemolyticus

Professional Research and Education Program Graduate Student Research Day — Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS

Awarded Graduate Student Research Day Platform Presentation Award
Type III Secretion System Gene Expression and Virulence is Regulated by a DNA Cruciform Structure at the exsA promoter in Vibrio parahaemolyticus

Genomes to Biology: The 8th International Conference on the Biology of Vibrios — McGill University, Montreal, QC

Awarded People's Choice Award
Creating LGBTQ+ Inclusive Spaces for Equitable Active Learning

Dalhousie Conference on University Teaching and Learning — Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS

The Multimodal Lifestyle of Marine Vibrios

Microbiology and Immunology Seminar Series — Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS

Flipping the Switch on Bacterial Pathogenesis: How the Leading Cause of Seafood-borne Gastroenteritis - Vibrio parahaemolyticus - Regulates Virulence

LGBTSTEMinar 2019 — Institute of Physics, London, UK

Linking Phenotype and Pathogen Genomics: TnSeq and Next Generation DNA Sequencing

Professional Research and Education Program Graduate Student Research Day — Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS

Vibrio parahaemolyticus: A Versatile Pathogen Living a Dual-Lifestyle

Microbiology and Immunology Graduate Student Seminar — Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS

Biofuel Production set to Spike: Identification of Biofuel Producing Enzymes in the Porcupine Microbiome

2016 iGEM Giant Jamboree — iGEM, Boston, MA

Poster Presentations (20)

Vibrio parahaemolyticus integrons encode novel antiphage defences

Getz, L.J.*, Qian, A.L., Fairburn, S.R., Liu, Y.V., Maxwell, K.L.

Third Annual Antimicrobial Resistance Symposium — Toronto, ON

Vibrio parahaemolyticus Defence Hotspot Encodes Two Novel DNA Glycosylase-Based Enzymes Restricting Phage Replication

Qian, A.L.*, Getz, L.J., Lee, Y-J, Weigele, P.R., Maxwell, K.L.

Third Annual Antimicrobial Resistance Symposium — Toronto, ON

Vibrio parahaemolyticus integrons encode novel antiphage defences

Getz, L.J.*, Qian, A.L., Fairburn, S.R., Liu, Y.V., Maxwell, K.L.

Annual Biochemistry Department Retreat — Toronto, ON

Identifying and Characterizing Novel Anti-Phage Defense Systems in Vibrio parahaemolyticus

Fairburn, S.R.*, Getz, L.J., Maxwell, K.L.

BCH/MGY Summer Student Research Session — Toronto, ON

Survive or Succumb: Exploring anti-phage defence in V. parahaemolyticus

Liu, Y.V.*, Getz, L.J., Maxwell, K.L.

BCH/MGY Summer Student Research Session — Toronto, ON

Identification of a Novel Phage Defence Hotspot in Vibrio parahaemolyticus

Getz, L.J.*, Fairburn, S.R., Liu, Y.V., Qian, A.L., Maxwell, K.L.

73rd Annual Conference of the Canadian Society of Microbiologists — London, ON

Novel DNA glycosylase-based enzyme restricts phage replication in Vibrio parahaemolyticus

Qian, A.L.*, Getz, L.J., Maxwell, K.L.

73rd Annual Conference of the Canadian Society of Microbiologists — London, ON

The Development of a Natural Transformation-CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing system in Vibrio parahaemolyticus

Fairburn, S.R.*, Getz, L.J., Maxwell, K.L.

Ontario Biology Day 2024 — Toronto, ON

Investigating V. parahaemolyticus defence against a novel jumbophage

Liu, Y.V.*, Getz, L.J., Maxwell, K.L.

Ontario Biology Day — Toronto, ON

Identification of a Novel Phage Defence Hotspot in Vibrio parahaemolyticus

Getz, L.J.*, Fairburn, S.R., Liu, V.L., Qian, A.L., Maxwell, K.L.

2024 Symposium on the Immune System of Bacteria — Boston, USA

A Start to Phage Therapy: Characterization of Bacteriophages against a Marine Foodborne Pathogen

Liu, Y.V.*, Getz, L.J., Maxwell, K.L.

BCH/MGY Summer Student Research Session — Toronto, ON

Transposon Sequencing Identifies a Genetic Paradigm for Chitin Utilization in Vibrio parahaemolyticus

Robinson, O.*, Getz, L.J., Thomas, N.A.

72nd Annual Conference of the Canadian Society of Microbiologists — Halifax, NS

Understanding the Global Antiphage Defence Arsenal of a Pandemic Foodborne Pathogen

Getz, L.J.*, Maxwell, K.L.

72nd Annual Conference of the Canadian Society of Microbiologists — Halifax, NS

The Best Defence is a Good Offence: Understanding Antiphage Defence in V. parahaemolyticus for more Effective Phage Therapy

Getz, L.J.*, Maxwell, K.L.

2022 QAtCanSTEM Colloquium — Halifax, NS

A DNA junction superstructure regulates Type III Secretion System gene expression and virulence in Vibrio parahaemolyticus

Getz, L.J., Brown, J.M., Thomas, N.A.*

69th Annual Conference of the Canadian Society of Microbiologists — Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC

Type III Secretion System Gene Expression and Virulence is Regulated by a DNA Cruciform Structure at the exsA promoter in Vibrio parahaemolyticus

Getz, L.J.*, Brown, J.M., Thomas, N.A.

Centre for Comparative Genomics and Evolutionary Bioinformatics Research Retreat — Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS

Linking Phenotype and Pathogen Genomics: TnSeq and Next Generation DNA Sequencing

Getz, L.J.*, Comeau, A., Langille, M.G.I., Thomas, N.A.

23rd Annual Infectious Disease Research Day — Centre for Vaccinology, Halifax, NS

HlyU and H-NS act as a Genetic Switch for Transcriptional Control of the Type-III Secretion System I Master Regulator exsA

Getz, L.J.*, Thomas, N.A.

ASM Vibrio2017 — American Society of Microbiology, Chicago, IL

Discovery of a Genetic Switch in Vibrio parahaemolyticus that Contributes to Host Cell Death during Infection

Getz, L.J.*, Thomas, N.A.

22nd Annual Infectious Disease Research Day — Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS

Biofuel Production set to Spike: Identification of Biofuel Producing Enzymes in the Porcupine Microbiome

Getz, L.J.*, Finlayson-Trick, E.C.L., Hagar, M., Slaine, P.D., Thornbury, M., Lamourerux, E., Cook, J., Langille, M.G.I., Murray, L.E., McCormick, C., Rohde, J.R., Cheng, Z.

2016 iGEM Giant Jamboree — iGEM, Boston, MA

Teaching & Student Supervision

Courses Taught and Course Design

Lecturer, BIOL 3037: Life Rewritten

Dalhousie University

Course Designer, MICI2100DE (Distance Education)

Dalhousie University

Course Designer, CHEM 1011/1021 and CHEM 1012/1022 (Distance Education)

Dalhousie University

Course Designer, BIOL3037: Life Rewritten

Dalhousie University

Lecturer, CHEM 1011/1021 and CHEM 1012/1022

Dalhousie University

Teaching Assistant, CHEM 1011/1021 and CHEM 1012/1022

Dalhousie University

Teaching Assistant, MICI 2100

Dalhousie University

Teaching Assistant, CHEM 1011/1021 and CHEM 1012/1022

Dalhousie University

Student Supervision

Graduate Students

Sam Fairburn, University of Toronto — Biochemistry
Valmic Mukund, University of Toronto — Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Amy Qian, University of Toronto — Biochemistry
Nicholas Chen, University of Toronto — Biochemistry - Rotation
Minseo (Bella) Kim, University of Toronto — Biochemistry - Rotation
Surani Weerasundarage, University of Toronto — Biochemistry - Rotation

Co-op Students

Faie Shahbaz, University of Waterloo — Nanotechnology Engineering
Mahnoor Butt, University of Waterloo — Computational Chemistry
Lauren Bryan, University of Waterloo — Biology
Sam Fairburn, University of Waterloo — Biochemistry

Undergraduate Students

Vivian Liu, University of Toronto — Biochemistry
Alexandra Chow, Dalhousie University — Microbiology & Immunology
Justin Brown, Dalhousie University — Microbiology & Immunology
Kareem Abdelgabar, Dalhousie University — Microbiology & Immunology
Lauren Sobot, Dalhousie University — Microbiology & Immunology
Jastina Mahendrarajah, Dalhousie University — Microbiology & Immunology
Phoebe Phonchareon, Dalhousie University — Microbiology & Immunology
Divya Thomas, Dalhousie University — Microbiology & Immunology

Awards & Honors

2026

  • Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Prize - Microbiology Society

2025

  • Knowles Postdoctoral Research Prize - Canadian Society of Microbiologists

2024

  • Gray-Doolittle Awards for Research Excellence - Institute of Comparative Genomics

2023

  • Connell Award for Best All Round Post Doctoral Fellow
  • GSK-EPIC Convergence Postdoctoral Fellowship in Antimicrobial Resistance - EPIC
  • CIHR Postdoctoral Fellowship - Canadian Institutes of Health Research

2022

  • Design2Learn (D2L) Innovation Award in Teaching and Learning - STLHE
  • Armand-Frappier Outstanding Graduate Student Award - CSM

2021

  • Canadian College of Microbiologists Symposium Award - CSM
  • Educational Leadership Award for Collaborative Teaching - Dalhousie CLT

2020

  • CIHR Silver Award - Canadian Student Health Research Forum

2019

  • People's Choice Award - 8th International Conference on the Biology of Vibrios
  • President's Graduate Student Teaching Assistant Award - Dalhousie University
  • PREP Graduate Student Research Day Platform Presentation Award
  • Faculty of Medicine Excellence in Research Award - Dalhousie University
  • Vanier Canadian Graduate Scholarship - NSERC
  • Killam Graduate Scholarship - Killam Foundation
  • Alexander Graham Bell Canadian Graduate Scholarship Doctoral - NSERC
  • HHMI Tuition Scholarship - Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories

2018

  • Nova Scotia Health Research Foundation Scotia Scholars Award
  • Alexander Graham Bell Canadian Graduate Scholarship Masters - NSERC
  • Nova Scotia Graduate Scholarship

2017

  • Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Honours Research
  • Nova Scotia Graduate Scholarship
  • Faculty of Science Undergraduate Research Prize
  • Honours Student Prize

2016

  • NSERC University Summer Research Award

2015

  • Dalhousie University In-Course Scholarship

2013

  • Dalhousie University Entrance Scholarship
  • Alexander Rutherford Scholarship

Scholarly & Professional Activities

Grant Review Panels

Peer Reviewer, Canadian Graduate Research Scholarship - Doctoral program

Canadian Institutes of Health Research

EPIC Ignite Grants

Emerging Pandemic Infections Consortium

Peer Reviewer, CIHR Canadian Graduate Scholarship - Doctoral

Canadian Institutes of Health Research

EPIC Convergence Postdoctoral Fellowship

Emerging Pandemic Infections Consortium

Youth Reviewer, Healthy Youth Catalyst Grant

Canadian Institutes of Health Research

Peer Reviewer, CIHR Canadian Graduate Scholarship - Doctoral

Canadian Institutes of Health Research

Observer, NSHRF Peer-Review Panel

Dalhousie University

Journal Referee

Nature Microbiology, Nature Communications, Microbial Genomics, PLoS Computational Biology, Nature Reviews Genetics, Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Microbiology Spectrum, mSystems, Microbiome

Conference Organization

External Advisor, 2SLGBTQ+ in STEM Conference

Toronto Metropolitan University

ASM Young Ambassador, 73rd Annual Conference of the Canadian Society of Microbiologists

Western University

ASM Young Ambassador, 72nd Annual Conference of the Canadian Society of Microbiologists

Dalhousie University

External Advisor, 3rd Annual QAtCanSTEM Colloquium

Mount Saint Vincent University

ASM Young Ambassador, 71st Annual Conference of the Canadian Society of Microbiologists

University of Guelph

Organizing Committee Member, CCfV/ID Research Day

Dalhousie University

Primary Conference Organizer, 1st Annual QAtCanSTEM Colloquium

Dalhousie University

Scientific Society Membership

Member, Microbiology Society
Member, Applied Microbiology International
Member, Canadian Society of Microbiologists
Member, American Society for Microbiology
ASM Young Ambassador to Canada, American Society for Microbiology
Student Member, Nova Scotia Institute of Science

Governmental Consultation & Advising

Mentor, Chief Science Advisor of Canada's Youth Council

Office of the Chief Science Advisor, Government of Canada

Consultant, Tri-Agency Training Strategy External Advisory Committee

NSERC, on behalf of the Tri-Agency

Member, Chief Science Advisor's Youth Council

Office of the Chief Science Advisor, Government of Canada

Participant, NSERC 2030: A Strategic Plan

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada

Participant, Chief Science Advisor of Canada's Open Science Dialogues

Office of the Chief Science Advisor, Government of Canada

Observer, Expert Advisory Committee on COVID-19: Zoonosis

Office of the Chief Science Advisor, Government of Canada

Consultant, CIHR Self-Identification Questionnaire Review

Canadian Institutes of Health Research

Institutional Service

Founder, Pride in Microbiology Network
Founder, Queer Atlantic Canadian STEM (QAtCanSTEM)
Board Member, Scientists of the Maritimes
Graduate Student Representative, Institute for Comparative Genomics
Graduate Student Representative, Undergraduate Studies Committee, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University

Community Outreach & EDI Efforts

Co-Founder, Pride in Microbiology
Panelist, American Society of Microbiology IDEAA Committee
Panelist, Applied Microbiology International
Board Member, Board of Directors, Scientists of the Maritimes
Founder, Queer Atlantic Canadian Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (QAtCanSTEM)

Media & News

2026

  • UofT Medicine Magazine: "Why Equity Matters" (Winter 2026)

2025

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

  • CBC Nova Scotia's Information Morning Radio Show: "LGBTSTEMDAY: Inclusion and Diversity in STEM with Portia Clarke, live in studio" (July 2018)

2017